Comments on Route 54 from IL to New Mexico

I have been driving 54 for the last 20 years plenty. It is a good road, mostly 2 lane and goes through quite a few small towns. If you're in a big hurry stay on I 44 to I40..... If you have the time and don't mind at times being behind a big truck or a slow car or having one behind you, you won't mind 54.

If you are coming from IL I would stay on I 70 to Ellsworth, KS then 156 s/w to Greatbend, KS 56 west to Dodge City 283 south and pick up 54 at Minneola, KS... once you get to Ellsworth there is very little traffic to Minneola. When you get to Tucumcari, NM stay on I 40 to Santa Rosa, NM exit off to 54.... really good going from there to Alamogordo, NM then 70 to Las Cruses if that's the direction you are headed. A lot of RV'ers on that road.

Speed traps in some of the towns (Meade, KS for one) but a good road from I-49 in Missouri to NM. That is as far east as I ever went on US54. The little piece around Dalhart, TX use to be rough due to truck traffic, but I have not driven there in 8 yrs or so.

Not your fastest route, or most visually entertaining IMO but if you want to avoid freeways it is not a bad drive on the pieces I have driven.

Do you have a trucker's atlas? That is the first place I check when deciding on a route - if it's not recommended for truckers then I find another route. Had pretty good luck with it so far.

I can't comment on 54 north of Witchita KS but from there to NM it is pretty good.